One the day prior to medical abortion (labor induction) in the second trimester, insertion of osmotic dilators is added to the routine procedures. The study is to see whether the addition of dilators decreases the abortion time (time for the pregnancy to be expelled)

This is a pilot study and is an uncontrolled, non-randomized series. Women having a medical abortion in second trimester undergo several procedures the day before the medication to cause contractions occurs. On the day before admission, they take mifepristone orally, and have a feticidal injection. to this would be added the insertion of cervical osmotic dilators (the intervention). On the day of induction, the dilators would be removed and misoprostol started to cause contractions. We are hoping the median abortion time will drop from the present 9-10 hours to 4-6 hours. women who do not abort in 6 hours will have option of surgical completion of the abortion (dilation and evacuation) if medically appropriate.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 50 Years (Adult)

Genders Eligible for Study:

Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Requesting abortion 19-23 weeks

No contraindication to induction abortion

Exclusion Criteria:

Fetal demise

Ruptured membranes

Evidence of pelvic infection

Inability to give informed consent

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00855842